GPT-5.4 In-Depth Review and Usage Guide (with an OpenClaw Local Agent Hands-On Tutorial)
[//]: # (# How to use GPT-5.4? An in-depth GPT-5.4 review and a China upgrade guide (with an OpenClaw local Agent hands-on tutorial))
Core Summary: The brand-new GPT-5.4 (including GPT-5.4-Thinking and GPT-5.4 Pro) is officially here! Not only does it make up for previous models' shortcomings in coding and world knowledge, it also achieves an all-around leap in tool calling (Agent) and native computer operation (Computer Use) capabilities. This article gives you an in-depth look at the latest GPT-5.4 benchmark data, compares real-world usage scenarios among mainstream models, and walks you step by step through how to use GPT-5.4 in China, as well as how to combine it perfectly with the local agent tool OpenClaw.
Table of Contents (click to jump)
- 1. Pain Point Analysis: Why GPT-5.4 Makes You Want to Cancel Your Claude Subscription Immediately?
- 2. The Data Exposed: How Powerful Is GPT-5.4, Really? An In-Depth Review of Core Capabilities
- 3. Scenario Selection: GPT-5.4 vs Claude Opus 4.6 Deep Comparison
- 4. Advanced Play: How Does GPT-5.4 Integrate with the Local Tool OpenClaw?
- 5. Zero-Barrier Tutorial: How to Configure and Upgrade Cost-Effectively in China?
- 6. Summary: Redefining "AI Delivery Capability"
# 1. Pain Point Analysis: Why GPT-5.4 Makes You Want to Cancel Your Claude Subscription Immediately?
Once you see what GPT-5.4-Thinking and GPT-5.4 Pro can do, you really can start preparing to cancel your Claude Code subscription! The core reason is simple: Claude is genuinely good, but it's too expensive and its ecosystem is closed.
Recently, Anthropic officially blocked third-party tools such as OpenClaw, leaving your high-priced Claude subscription confined to the official interface. If you want to harness Claude's powerful capabilities within OpenClaw, you have no choice but to pay for extremely expensive API Keys — which is undoubtedly a money pit for individual developers and small teams.
The previously popular "free ride" or low-cost routes in the community — such as using Google's Antigravity plugin to reverse-proxy Claude quota to OpenClaw — have also been completely cut off by the official mass account bans.
The game-changer has arrived: GPT-5.4 steps in perfectly!
Not only does it push coding ability to the peak, its world knowledge also surpasses GPT-5.2, and most crucially, it officially supports using your ChatGPT Plus subscription quota! Compared with API costs that easily reach hundreds of dollars, a dirt-cheap $20/month lets you enjoy top-tier Agent foundation capabilities.
💡 Quick-start tip for users in China: If you don't yet have a GPT Plus account, or are struggling to pay directly from within China, we recommend first preparing the foundation environment through a legitimate self-service channel — the upgrade takes about 2 minutes: 👉 Official self-service GPT upgrade system for China: gptplus.org.cn (opens new window)
# 2. The Data Exposed: How Powerful Is GPT-5.4, Really? An In-Depth Review of Core Capabilities
On the latest AI evaluation benchmarks, GPT-5.4 has demonstrated dominant, all-around strength, completely shedding its "one-sided" label:
- GDPval: 83.0% (real work-task performance) This is the core metric for testing how an AI performs in real business, covering 44 high-barrier professions such as finance and law. GPT-5.4 Thinking achieved a stunning 83.0%, beating Claude Opus 4.6 (78.0%). This means it can not only write code, but also discuss complex business problems with you in plain "human language."
- SWE-Bench Pro: 57.7% (real software engineering capability) Tests an AI's ability to solve real engineering problems in the four major programming languages. GPT-5.4 scored 57.7%, roughly on par with the code-focused GPT-5.3 Codex (56.8%). It holds onto top-tier coding performance while filling in its world-knowledge gaps.
- ToolAthlon: 54.6% (tool calling and core Agent capability) A key metric for how well an AI performs as an Agent. GPT-5.4's 54.6% puts it far ahead of Claude Sonnet 4.6 (44.8%), opening up a gap of nearly 10 percentage points.
In one sentence: GPT-5.4 = Codex's peak coding ability + world knowledge that crushes previous generations + top-tier tool-calling capability + outstanding value for money.
# 3. Scenario Selection: GPT-5.4 vs Claude Opus 4.6 Deep Comparison
Facing the two strongest large models currently on the market, how should developers and business users choose? Let's compare them intuitively through the table below:
| Evaluation Dimension | GPT-5.4 (incl. Thinking/Pro) | Claude Opus 4.6 | Winner / Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multimodality & Tool Calling | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (extremely strong, native computer operation) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (strong, but relatively closed ecosystem) | GPT-5.4 wins. Ideal for office automation, spreadsheet processing, and local Agent control. |
| Combined Coding & Business Understanding | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (top-tier coding, extremely deep business understanding) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (extremely strong coding, stable reasoning) | Tie. Both are currently the strongest on Earth. |
| Third-Party Tool Ecosystem Support | Fully open (supports connecting Plus quota to OpenClaw, etc.) | Strictly locked down (official interface or expensive API only) | GPT-5.4 wins decisively. The first-choice foundation for developers and power users. |
| Monthly Cost | $20/month (cost-effective subscription) | $200/month (Max Plan) or expensive API | GPT-5.4 wins decisively. A godsend for small teams and individual developers. |
Conclusion: If you've recently been hooked on local Agent tools like OpenClaw and want AI to truly take over your computer and get things done, then GPT-5.4 is currently the only "best solution" on the market.
# 4. Advanced Play: How Does GPT-5.4 Integrate with the Local Tool OpenClaw?
If you look at GPT-5.4 on its own, you'll only notice the model got smarter; but combine it with OpenClaw, and the AI formally evolves from "a typewriter in a chat box" into "a digital employee with system-level permissions."
OpenAI has heavily strengthened Computer Use in GPT-5.4. On OSWorld-Verified (which simulates real human computer operations), GPT-5.4 Thinking scored an impressive 75.0%, surpassing both the human baseline and Opus 4.6!
It can read the screen like a human, click precisely with the mouse, and type quickly with the keyboard. And OpenClaw happens to provide the perfect local shell: letting GPT-5.4 step out of the browser and directly access your local files, operate third-party software, and execute system-level automation scripts.
GPT-5.4 (the mightiest brain) + OpenClaw (the nimble hands) = a truly fully automatic workflow.
# 5. Zero-Barrier Tutorial: How to Configure and Upgrade Cost-Effectively in China?
Since competitors have blocked third-party tools, forcing your way through raw API calls is extremely costly. The most economical, most efficient solution is: authorize OpenClaw directly with your ChatGPT subscription account.
The specific configuration steps are as follows:
Step 1: Get a high-privilege foundation account
You must have a ChatGPT Plus, Pro, or Business subscription. If you're in China and run into payment difficulties (such as rejected credit cards or unusual environments), we strongly recommend using the legitimate system below for one-click upgrade, sparing yourself the hassle: 👉 Direct access to the self-service GPT recharge/upgrade system for China (opens new window) (takes about 2 minutes, safe and stable).
Step 2: Install and deploy OpenClaw Go to the OpenClaw official GitHub repository or website, download the latest client for your operating system, and complete the basic installation.
Step 3: One-click authorization and binding Open the OpenClaw settings interface and select
OpenAI / Codexas the Model Provider. Click sign in; the system will redirect to your browser, where you complete OAuth authorization using the ChatGPT Plus account you just upgraded.
Step 4: Start letting the AI work for you! After authorization succeeds, you can directly issue commands in OpenClaw's dialog, for example: "Open the sales data table on my desktop, sort out the three products with the highest Q1 profit margins, and write a report email to save in my drafts."
# 6. Summary: Redefining "AI Delivery Capability"
With GPT-5.4, we should no longer stop at the discussion of "how much smarter it is than the previous generation." What's truly formidable about it is this: it seamlessly fuses fragmented AI capabilities into a single system that can directly "deliver results."
Now that a "super brain" with top-tier cognition, perfect coding ability, and low-cost, seamless integration with local computer environments has arrived, are you ready to hand over how much of your boring work to it?
Upgrade your AI toolkit right now and seize the productivity dividends of the digital age ahead of time!